Interchangeable floor strip



INTERGHANGEABLE FLovoRsTI-VP Filed March 5, 195o Patented Jan. 12, 1932 STATE-si- PA'ifi-:NT OFFICE rAsQUALE GALAssi, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

`INT1:Rcimikraimaient: Fjrofonf sTRfIr Y Application ined .March .5, i930;- .seriali 'No'. 433,315'. i

rI'his invention relates to improvements in dividing strips of the type employed in the construction of terrazzo and similar vfloors where the floor is divided into a number of panels arranged according to a predetermined design. Terrazzo, granolithic and similar'floors generally comprise a lower or foundation bed made of concrete or cement or mortar or other Suitable material, and an upper'or finishing layer generally consisting of Aa .mixture of marble chips and cement, by means of which ing the desired design by meansof dividing strips placed on or through the foundation layer. y

vThe strips employed are generally made of relatively soft metal such as brass-for instance, but are alsoat times made of different materials according to the ornamental requirements of the design and color scheme to be produced. f

As a rule however, the metal employed is apt to be considerably more expensive than steel, and therefore it is desirable to sub- Y stitute steel or some other inexpensive material for the part of the strip which is embedded into the floor material and which is not likely to show even after the Hoor vhas been subjected to considerable wear. y

sections interlocking with each other by means of male and female joints formed by their` inner edge portions. Furthermore, in a copending application entitled Terrazzo floor strips, Ser. No. 37 6,809, I have described and claimed a somewhat Similar strip in which the joint portionsof the strip extend laterally at one side thereof, this construction tending to increase the rigidity of the structureanid doing yaway with the necessity` of providing additional anchoring and positioning means I have found that a more rigid joint lie- `tween Vthe two sections of a bimetallic strip is obtained if the inner portion of the locking s ection is formed sc asto have parts abutting against both sides of theinner'portion ofthe other section. j

I have also found that itis possibleby the construction herein advocated toobtain extremely rigid structures even when a strip of relatively light gauge is used for ,the lower or supporting section; furthermore, I have also found that it is possible to standardize the construction of the lower or supporting section, Vwhile producing completed structures in whichtlie upper portion may be of various thicknesses or. may be made of different metals according to requirements.

The present l invention is partlyfa'di'vision and partly a continuation of a pending ap-y plication. entitledl.Compound floor strips,` Ser'. No. 426,882, and its"` primary object is to provide a dividing strip for terrazzo and like floors, 'of a rigid and lrelatively inexpensive construction, saidl strip being formed out of twosectionstlie lower one ofwhich may be standardized `to interlock with upper sections of varying width.V or character. Another Objectis to provide a bimetallie floor strip of relatively Asimpleand strong construction entailing for -its production y aY miiiinium'quantitylof metalthe two sections composing said strip being'securely joined toieachl otherby operations requiringA a relativelysmall expenditure of labor. f

i A still further .object is lto providein a In a patent entitled Dividing strip, granted to me May 28, 1929, #1,715,193, I have de -f` scribed and claimed a strip,- composed of two Iioor strip of the character specified a novel and improved method of'joining two strip;

Sections 'i together, said method insuring a l maximumof rigidity and strength while entailing a comparatively smallexpenditure of labor. 4 I

A still further Aobject is to provide a novel method of producing `floor strips *having upper sections "ofj varying character and width," whereby i by "the vstandardization of certain parts of said Vstrips it becomes possible toreduce to a minimum the investment required by tools and other production equipment. Y

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will more fully appear asthe description proceeds and will be set forth and claimed the appended claims. i

My invention is illustratedby'way of example in the accompanyingdrawin'gs, in which: Y

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a strip embodying my invention in which the means for lockingin pofsiti'on'the `i` upper section are-obtained by notching the upper edge of the lower section; Fig. 2is a vertical section thereof l Fig. 3 isY a .fragmentary view 'in perspective of a somewhat similar strip in. which the locking means are obtained by punching off portions ofthe body of the lower section i 10 is a fragmentaryl'vertical section. Vof avterrazzo floor showing a ,dividing strip of the type `shown in Fig. 6in position.

The strip Aillustrated in Figs. .1,.`2com.

prises an upper section lland a lower section 12 interlocking therewith. l rIhe upper section consists of an angle bai having a vertical rib portion lyand a laterally extending base flange 14. "The lower section comprises a flat strip which may have anuninterrupted rlower edge ror elseY a lower edge notched at intervals as shown at'15 lto produce longi-V -f tudinally spaced lugsl, the upper edge of saidstrip beingslit at intervals to isolatev tongue portions which may be bent to'eXtend i laterally of the body ofthe'strip toform lugs or ears 17 collectively forming a longitudinal supportlfor the base flange-lle ofir-thenpper section. Lugs or .e

widthofthe flangeil sothatthelower por; tion ofl the upper, section can be'placed difV rectlybetween theupper' edge portion ofthe lower section and the inner surface of the up-k turned edges. of lugs or ears 1 7 as shown. 7

'The upturned. portionflSfof ears or vlugs 17 extends beyondv the upper edge ofl flange 14, so that the edge of said fupturnedpor'tion 18 can be turned` inwardly theV outer:v

ars 1 7 'have their outer edges turned upwardly i at afpointj.laterallyfV dis? v i placed fromltheinner surfaceof'thenbody of ythe strip a distance correspondingto the.

edge of flange 14'as shown securely locking the upper section in position.

It will be observed that by virtue of this arrangement, the lower portion ofthe upper section remains imprisoned between the upper edge portion of the lower section and the lugs or ears extending laterally of said lower section, the result being a strip requiring comparatively few and simple operations for its "manufacture yet having great rigidity and strengthprovided by the iange portion 14 of the upper section.

AIt isalso'V possible to provide the equivalent of lugs or ears 17 without materially weaken- Ving' thelower ksection by slitting its upper edge. This can be obtained by punching the strip at spacedintervals to isolate tongues fromthe body of the `strip bending said tongues laterally so as Ato'produce hook formed supporting and retaining members for the upper section.

. Such a construction is illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, where 19 designates the upper section Vwhich is also in this case in the nature of an angle lbar comprising a laterally extending base flange 20, and 21 designates the lower section punched at'intervalsfto form openings at 22isolating tongues which are bent laterallyof the upper edge of said openings to form ears or lugs 23. Like in the previous case the outer edge portion of said ears 0rVv lugs 23 is bent upwardly as Yshown at 24 so as to fornrwith'the upper edge of the lower sect-ion a 'channeled ledge support for the baseflange of the upper section. The uppery edge of said upturned portion 24: is then bent inwardly over flange 20`as shown at 25 securely lockingV the Vupper sectioni in position.

j It is obviousthat the construction of the lower section'can be standardizedso as to be useful in :connection w'ith'upper sections of lvarious widths and descriptions. i

rI his"possibility is clearly illustrated in Figs; 5, 6,' 7, 8, in each' yone of which the same lowerfsection is used in connection with a different upper'section.v Y

...In Fig. 5 the-.upper section comprises a relatively thickupper portion 26formed integralwith a base portion QZhaving an angle section having the same dimensions as'the base portion of 'upper section 19 in Figs. 3

Yand 4l interlocking with and ,retained by the lowersection. In a similar manner the upper section ofthe strip shown in Fig. 6 cornprises 'a` still thicker upper portion 28 and a baseportio'n 29 which also has dimensions corresponding tot those of the base portion of i upper Vsection 19 interlockingwith the vlower section. n

- The upperv section illustrated in Fig. 7 con'l sists of va U -shapedshell portion 30. formed integlral'withan angle shaped base portion 31 -t e dimensionsV of which correspond to.

those of angleportions'27, 29, so as to also in this case fit the standardized lowersection 21. The chamber formed by the U shaped shell is lilled with a suitable filler 32 which may be 0f metal dilferent from that out of which the shell is made or else may be a material possessing anti-slip properties such as lead or cement aggregate or rubber, etc.

A somewhat similar construction is shown in Fig. 8. where the upper sectionconsists of an open top shell 33 having a dovetailed section, said shell being formed integral with a base angle portion 34 depending therefrom said ybase portion beingV adapted to interlock with the lower section 2l as explained v.The chamber formed by Shell' 33 is also in this case filled by a suitable filler 35, said filler being securely retained in position by the inwardly inclined sides of the shell.

The useof a strip of the type shown in Figs. 3, 4 is illustrated in Fig. 9 where 36 is a floor foundation, 37 is the lower layer of a terrazzo floor and 38 is the `upper layer. In the samek it will be observed that the lower surface of lugs or ears 23 rests upon Vthe top surface of the lower layer of thefloor thus determining the depth at which the strip is to be inserted within the plastic material out of which the lower layer is made.

The remaining portion of the strip upwardly projecting from said lower layer therefore determines the depth of the lower layer, the strip being also anchored in position by the lateral projections formed by flange 2O and by lugs or ears 23.

In Fig. l() I illustrate a floor in which a strip of the type shown in Fig. 6 is used, so

as to demonstrate the various `effects which can be obtained by the construction advocated. In said figure 39 is the foundation bed, 40

is the lower layer of the Hoor and 41 is the upperlayer, the lower surface of the laterally extending lugs or ears being also in this case used to determine the depth at which the strip is to be inserted through the lower layer.

Although in all the drawingsI show upper Y sections having angle shaped lower portions it is, of course, possible to 'use lower portions having diderent outlines, the idea being to produce upper sections having a standard base portion adapted to interlock witha lower section of standardized construction said lower section being adapted toabut against both sides of and to interlock with said base portion. In practice however, I prefer to use an upper section in the form of an angle bar because such a section lcan be easily produced out of a dat strip by bending its lower edgey portion along a longitudinal line so as to forni a laterally `extending flange when relatively thin upper sections are used. It is obvious that although in every case I have shown the laterally extending iiange bent at 90 degrees to the vertical body of the upper section, it is possible to incline said flange at a greater or lesser angle if desired.

The constructional details of myv improved st rip may further vary from those shown without. departing from the inventive idea; the drawings will therefore be understood as being intendedy for illustrative purposes only the other section abutting against the surl face of the other section opposite that from which said laterally extending portion extends, saidother section having iaterally extending lugs struck oil the body thereof, enibracing said' laterallyextending portion. i 2. A dividing strip for terrazzo and like floors, comprising upper and lower longitudinal sections, saidV upper section having itsA inner edge formed with'a lateral-.ly extending portion, the inneredge portion of said lower section abutting against the surface of said upper section opposite that from which said laterally extending portion eX- teiids,said lower section having laterally extending lugs struck ofi3 the body thereof, supporting and retainingrsaid laterally extending portion. l,

3. Adividing strip for terrazzo and like lioors comprising upperr and lower longitudinal sections, said upper section having its inner edge formed with/a laterally ex! tending la-nge, the inner edgey portion of said v lower/section. abuttingagainst the surface of said upper section' opposite that frein which said" laterally )extending iiangefextends, said lower section having i laterally extending lugs struck o frp` 'the bodyj thereof, supporting and `retaining said laterally extending flange. "l

4. A dividing stripV for terrazzo and like floors, comprisingy upper and lower longitudinal sections, said uppersection having an angle shaped inner edge portion having ak laterally extending flange, the inner edge of sai-d lower 'section abutting against the surface of said angle shaped portion oppositetliat from which said flange extends, said lower section iaving laterally extending lugs struck oil the body thereof-,supporting and retaining` said-laterally 'extending flange.

.A-dividingstrip for terrazzo and like floors, comprising,upperand lower longitudinal sections, said upper section having an angle'shaped inner edge portion having a laterally extending flange, the inner edge of said lower section abutting against the surface of said angle shaped portion oppo- Y site thaty from which said `flange extends, said tion, nesting the corner portion of 'said anglek section within and against the side surface of said flat section and the vsurfaces of said lugs, and folding the outer ends of said lugs over the edge of the flange of said angle section abutting thereaga'inst.

7. A dividing strip for terrazzo and like floors, comprising upper and lower longitudinal sections,`one of saidsections having its innerledge formed with a laterally ex-v tending portion, the other section having lugs laterally extending therefrom at longitudinally spaced intervals along a line spaced from its inner edge, the inner edge portion of said first mentioned section abutting against the side of the inner ec ge portion of the second mentioned section, said laterally extending portion abutting against said lugs, said lugs embracing and retaining the outer edge of saidlaterally extending portion.

8. A dividing strip for terrazzo and like floors, comprising upperand lower longitudinal sections, one of said sections having its inner edge formed with a laterally extending flange, the other section having lugs laterally extending therefrom at Vlongitudinally spaced intervals along a line jspaced from its inner edge, the inner edge portion .ofsaid irst mentioned` section abutting against the side of the inneredge portion of the second mentioned section, said laterally extending flange abutting against said lugs, said lugs `embracing and' retaining the outer edge of said laterally extending portion.

9. A dividing strip for terrazzo and like floors, comprising upper and lower longitudinal sections, one of said sectionshaving its inner edge formed with a laterally extending portion, and the other section having lugs laterally extending therefrom at longitudinally spaced intervals along a line spaced from its inner edge, the innered'e portion of said first mentioned section abutting against the side ofthe inner edge portionV of the second mentioned section, said laterally extending port-ion abutting against said lugs, said lugs embracing and retaining the outer edge of said laterally extending portion, so as to connect said sections to each other, the resulting laterally extending connection being adapted to act as positioning and anchoring means for said strip.

10. A dividing strip for terrazzo and like floors, comprising upper and lower longitudinal sections, said upper section having its inner edge formed with a laterally ex-` tending portion, said lower Vsection having parts extending laterally and upwardly thereof, forming edge portion, the inner edge of, said upper section and the portionv laterally extending therefrom being inserted within said U- section and bein0V supported and retained thereby. f

ll. A dividing strip for terrazzo and like floors, comprising upper and lower longitudinal'sections, said upper section having its inner edge formed with a laterally extending flange, said lower section having parts extending laterallyV and upwardly thereof, forming a U-section with its inner edge porti n, the inner edge of said upper section and the flange laterally extending therefromv being-'inserted within said U-section and being supported and retained thereby.

- PASQUALE GALASSI,

a U-section with its innerv 

